I met Carl F. H. Henry several years ago. He was one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century. I greatly admired him and deeply appreciated his stance for truth. Though his magnum opus is the massive 6-volume God, Revelation, and Authority, his brief book The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism has been read by more people.
There is so much excellent material packed in The Uneasy Conscience. My copy is filled with my notes and markings. Here is one of my favorite quotes from this book–a quote overlooked by most:
“Without purposing to minimize the foreign needs. . . . The distinction between home and foreign missions is a generation outmoded; Christianity again faces the apostolic task of seeking to transform an environment that is quite unilaterally hostile” (69).
The year was 1947.
We have listened to Henry on other matters. Maybe we should listen to him on this one too. If we need another 68 years to think it over, then that should make us more than uneasy.
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Last week on Strike the Match, Dean Merrill was my guest as we discussed urban missions and the new book he produced with Patrick Johnstone, Serving God in Today’s Cities: Facing the Challenge of Urbanization. Subscribe and listen: iTunes | Android | RSS
